"CANNOT PARTY WITH USER CURRENTLY."
Rael blinked at the notification in confusion.
Noctus: What did you do?
A second later, Elias' response came in rapid-fire.
Chad_God: BRO. OK LISTEN.
Chad_God: I THOUGHT THE HORNS LOOKED COOL.
Chad_God: WHY AM I IN A CAVE. WHY IS EVERYTHING RED.
Chad_God: HELP.
Rael exhaled slowly, already regretting sending that friend request.
Noctus: …What race did you pick?
A brief pause. Then:
Chad_God: UHHH. SO FUNNY STORY. I MAY HAVE CHOSEN SOMETHING CALLED "UMBRAVORE."
Chad_God: WHICH SOUNDED KINDA METAL BUT APPARENTLY IT MEANS "DEMON THING THAT EATS LIGHT."
Chad_God: EVERY NPC HERE HATES ME. THE SKY IS BLEEDING. THERE'S CHANTING IN THE DISTANCE.
Rael closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Noctus: So, you're telling me you picked an obscure demon race in a game dominated by a holy empire?
Chad_God: …Yes.
Chad_God: IN MY DEFENSE. THE AESTHETIC.
Rael sighed. At least this meant they wouldn't be running into each other for a while. Probably for the best.
He dismissed the party request screen and turned back toward the world in front of him. The floating city loomed in the distance, its spires piercing the golden clouds. Down below, the medieval streets were coming to life—armored knights marching in formation, merchants hawking their wares, and robed figures whispering in the shadows of cathedral-like buildings.
It was time to begin.
* * *
The city was alive.
Rael stepped forward, taking in the sheer density of movement around him. Unlike typical MMORPG towns, where NPCs often felt robotic, these people had lives. He watched as a baker scolded a young boy for sneaking a roll off the counter, only for the kid to laugh and bolt—before the baker sighed and shook his head with a smile.
Further down the street, two knights stood in conversation, their polished armor gleaming under the afternoon sun.
"—shipment's late again. The quartermaster's going to have my head."
"Not your fault. The roads have been a mess since the bandit raids last week."
Even priests muttered among themselves near the cathedral steps, exchanging hushed words that carried an uneasy tension.
Rael's immersion was broken by a sudden commotion—shouting, followed by a loud crash.
His gaze snapped toward the noise just in time to see a hooded figure bolt from a fruit stall, arms full of stolen goods. The vendor shouted after them, but before the thief could get far, a whistle cut through the air.
A city guard stepped forward, clad in full plate, moving with unnerving speed. Before the thief could react, the knight swung his halberd low, hooking the fleeing figure's ankle.
The thief face-planted into the dirt.
A system message popped up in the air above them.
[Player "KrimsonBlade" has been detained for breaking city laws. Penalty: Loss of Inventory + Temporary Lockout.]
Rael let out a low whistle. Damn. That was fast.
The guard lifted his gaze, surveying the street before settling his eyes on Rael.
"You look new."
Rael didn't argue. "I was looking for some directions. Where should I start?"
The knight grunted, resting his halberd against his shoulder. "New initiates should report to the barracks. Straight down this road, take a left at the plaza. You'll see a banner with a golden sun. Captain Oran handles recruits."
"Got it," Rael said with a nod.
As he walked, he flicked open the game's forums, scrolling through the live posts from other players. The reactions were… entertaining.
[Thayneman]: Anyone else just get chased out of town for looking too non-human?? WTF
[LunaLuna]: GUYS. THE SKY TURNED RED. WTF IS THIS GAME??
[Wolfram]: Who else picked a magic class? How do I stop lighting myself on fire?
[DagonR]: Bro I just watched a guy get arrested INSTANTLY. These guards don't play around.
Rael smirked. The level of realism in Solmora was already exceeding expectations.
Still, he needed to focus. With a thought, he called upon the system.
"Open Status."
A translucent screen appeared before him.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Noctus
Race: Human
Class: Templar
Level: 1
Affiliation: None
[ATTRIBUTES]
Strength - 9
Dexterity - 6
Endurance - 10
Constitution - 7
Intelligence - 7
Charisma - 5
[STATS]
HP - 100/100
MP - 90/90
Stamina - 100/100
Rael glanced over his status window, nodding to himself. "Looks balanced," he muttered. Nothing seemed too out of place, though he'd have to see how it felt in actual combat. His fingers hovered over the display before he dismissed it with a flick.
Elias' choice lingered in the back of his mind. That idiot probably picked something ridiculous. Rael smirked, imagining his roommate's reaction to whatever nonsense race he'd locked himself into. He made a mental note to check later.
His footsteps echoed against the cobbled streets as he neared the barracks. The faint clang of metal and barked orders filled the air—shouts of discipline, the rhythmic pounding of boots against the ground, the unmistakable sounds of a well-trained force at work.
Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, Rael stepped inside. Soldiers drilled in tight formations, their armor glinting under the morning light. Some sparred with wooden weapons, while others ran laps around the courtyard.
A few glanced at him, but most ignored his presence. He approached the nearest guard standing watch.
"I'm looking for captain Oran."
Captain Oran marched in with the sharp precision of a seasoned soldier, his heavy boots striking against the stone with each step. His stern gaze swept over Rael, assessing him in an instant.
"You're here to train?" Oran's voice was rough, the kind that had barked orders for decades.
Rael nodded.
"Good. No warrior steps onto the battlefield without mastering the basics." Oran motioned to a nearby rack lined with standard-issue training swords. "Grab one."
Rael picked up a sword. It was simple, unadorned, and slightly heavier than expected. The weight felt natural in his grip, though.
"Start with the fundamentals. Footwork, grip, and controlled strikes. No flailing. A templar fights with precision and discipline." Oran stepped back, arms crossed. "Practice with the recruits over there."
A notification popped up.
[QUEST RECEIVED: The First Step]
- Perform 10 basic slashes (0/10)
- Reward: Training Evaluation
Rael exhaled and moved toward the other recruits—players just like him, swinging their weapons with varying levels of skill. Time to get started.
Rael stepped up to one of the training dummies, rolling his shoulders before raising his sword. It looked simple enough—just swing and cut. He tightened his grip and slashed down.
Thud.
The impact jolted up his arms, and the blade barely bit into the dummy's surface. He frowned. It wasn't as effortless as he expected. The weight distribution was different from the games he'd played before, and the resistance felt oddly real.
A chuckle came from his right. "Not as easy as it looks, huh?"
Rael turned to see another player, a lean guy with short brown hair and a relaxed grin. He held his own training sword with practiced ease.
"Here's a tip," the player said, shifting his stance. "Let the weight of the sword do some of the work. If you force it too much, you're just wasting stamina. Try swinging from the shoulder, not just the arms."
Rael glanced at his grip, adjusting slightly before nodding. "Got it."
He readied himself again and swung—this time, the motion felt smoother, more controlled. The blade hit with a satisfying thunk.
Rael exhaled, feeling the difference in the strike. He glanced at the other player and gave a small nod. "Thanks. That actually helped."
The guy grinned. "No problem. Name's Gale by the way."
Rael adjusted his grip again, letting the name register. "Noctus."
Gale smirked. "hmm..." He gestured toward the dummy. "Keep at it. The muscle memory kicks in faster than you think."
Rael simply nodded before turning back to the task at hand.
After a while, as Rael completed his tenth slash, a deep voice cut through the training grounds.
"Not bad."
Captain Oran stood nearby, arms crossed, his sharp gaze assessing Rael's form. Without wasting time, he continued, "You're not done yet. Three more drills—overhead swings, diagonal slashes, and controlled thrusts. Ten of each. Focus on precision, not just power."
Rael exhaled, rolling his shoulders before tightening his grip on the sword. Looks like this was just the beginning.
Ten minutes in , As Rael completed the final thrust, a familiar chime echoed in his ears.
[System Notification: You have learned 'Novice Swordsmanship.']
A subtle shift ran through his body—nothing drastic, but enough to make the weight of the sword feel slightly more natural in his grip. The movements that had felt stiff and awkward before now carried a bit more fluidity.
Captain Oran gave a firm nod. "You're starting to get the feel of it. Keep training, and you won't embarrass yourself on the battlefield."
Rael flexed his fingers around the hilt, smirking slightly. The feeling of progress, he had missed this feeling.
He turned away and made his way back toward Gale, who was idly spinning his training sword between his fingers.
"Hey," Rael started, resting his own sword against his shoulder. "You know anything about quests?"
Gale glanced at him with an amused grin. "Kinda. You trying to get started?"
"Figured it's better than swinging at a dummy all day," Rael said.
Gale chuckled. "Good thinking. There's plenty of quests around if we were to look. Some are simple—fetch this, kill that—others, not so much. But hey exp is exp right?"
Rael nodded. "Got any leads?"
"Actually, yeah," Gale said, stretching his arms. "I was about to pick up a quest myself. If you're down, we could party up."
Rael gave a small nod. "Yeah, I'm in."
* * *
[New Quest: Pelt Collector]
- Objective: Harvest 15 Ranboar Pelts
- Reward: Experience, Coins
The quest hover lingered in Rael's vision as he stood at the forest's edge. The towering trees loomed ahead, their dense canopy casting shifting shadows over the ground. The earthy scent of damp leaves mixed with the distant sounds of unseen creatures.
He glanced at Gale, who eyed the quest notification with uncertainty. "So... this should be simple, right?"
Rael shrugged. "No idea. First time doing this too."
Gale exhaled, gripping his weapon a little tighter. "Yeah, the vendor just said she needed pelts. Didn't say how tough these things are."
Rael adjusted his stance, his grip firm around his sword. "Guess we'll find out."
As they ventured near the outskirts of the forest, the undergrowth grew denser, and the sounds of rustling leaves hinted at movement ahead. Then, they saw it—a small clearing where several creatures roamed.
The creatures were squat, boar-like beasts with bristling, dark-red fur and thick tusks. Their eyes gleamed with a feral glint, and every few moments, one would snort aggressively, pawing at the ground.
Above them, a system overlay flickered into view.
[Ranboar]
- Danger Level: Medium
Gale frowned. "Medium? What the hell does that even mean? Medium for who? A knight in full plate or some guy with a training sword?"
Rael exhaled, watching the creatures move. "Guess we're about to find out."
He narrowed his eyes, observing the ranboars as they snorted and roamed in loose patterns. Charging in blindly was a good way to get trampled. If they rushed in without a plan, they'd get overwhelmed fast.
"We pull one first," he said. "No way we're fighting the whole group at once."
Gale nodded. "Alright, but how do we lure just one?"
Rael scanned the area and spotted a fist-sized rock near his boot. He picked it up, weighing it in his palm before smirking. Without another word, he pulled his arm back and hurled the rock straight at the closest ranboar's flank.
The impact made a dull thud, and the creature let out a furious snort, stomping its hooves into the dirt as it turned toward them. Its eyes flared with aggression, nostrils flaring as it pawed the ground.
"Yep, that did it," Gale muttered, shifting into a stance.
Rael tightened his grip on his sword, exhaling slowly as the ranboar charged.
Rael stepped to the side, blade raised, as the ranboar barreled toward them. Its hooves dug deep into the dirt, kicking up dust as it lunged.
"Move!" he called out, and Gale dove to the left just in time. The ranboar skidded slightly as it missed its charge, giving Rael the opening he needed.
He swung his sword in a controlled arc, striking the beast's side. The blade bit into flesh but not as deep as he expected—the ranboar's thick hide absorbed much of the impact.
"Not bad!" Gale shouted as he circled around, gripping his own weapon. "My turn!"
While the ranboar twisted toward Rael, Gale came in from behind, slashing at its hind leg. The cut wasn't deep, but it made the creature stumble, forcing it to redistribute its weight.
Rael took the chance to strike again, driving his sword downward into its shoulder. The ranboar roared and bucked, but Gale quickly stepped in, jabbing his blade into its exposed side.
The combined strikes worked—the ranboar's movements grew sluggish, its aggression faltering. One final, well-timed slash from Rael cut across its neck, and with a guttural grunt, the beast collapsed onto the ground.
A system notification flickered into view.
[Ranboar Defeated! +15XP Earned]
Rael exhaled, glancing at Gale. "Well, that was easier than I expected."
"Yeah," Gale said, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. "I mean, the danger level said 'Medium,' but that felt... manageable."
Rael hummed in agreement. It wasn't just the ranboar itself—it was the fact that they had worked together, taking turns drawing its attention and striking from safe angles. Unlike solo fights, party combat made things far smoother.
He crouched beside the corpse, ready to claim the pelt. "Let's get this done before we attract more."
* * *
By the time the final ranboar fell, the forest had darkened, the golden hues of sunset giving way to the deep indigo of night. Rael wiped a bit of sweat from his brow, rolling his shoulder.
"Fifteen," he muttered, glancing at the quest log.
Gale exhaled, stretching his arms. "That took way longer than I expected."
"Welcome to early-game grinding." Rael smirked.
The two made their way back to the city, their surroundings quieter than before. Most players had either logged off or were still struggling through their own quests. A few torch-wielding NPC patrols kept the roads illuminated, their armor clanking with each step.
At the marketplace, they found the accessory vendor who had given them the quest. The old man grunted in approval as they handed over the pelts.
"Decent work," the NPC muttered. "Here's your reward."
A soft chime rang in Rael's ears.
[Quest Complete!]
Reward: 25 silver, 50 EXP
[You have leveled up!]
[Level 3 Achieved]
A subtle warmth coursed through his body as the system processed the change.
[You have gained 6 free stat points.]
"Oh?" Rael raised a brow. He called up his status window.
— Status Window —
Name: Noctus
Level: 3
HP: 100/100
MP: 90/90
Stamina: 100/100
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 6
Endurance: 10
Constitution: 4
Intelligence: 7
Charisma: 5
Free Stat Points: 6
"Three points per level, huh?" He pondered for a moment. Early on, survivability mattered more than anything. He dumped 3 points into Constitution and split the remaining 3 between Strength and Dexterity.
— Status Window —
Strength: 8 → 10
Dexterity: 6 → 7
Constitution: 4 → 7 (HP +30)
The changes took effect immediately, his body feeling just slightly sturdier.
"Not bad. This gives me room to optimize."
He dismissed the window and glanced at Gale.
"Not bad for a first quest," Gale said, sending Rael a friend request. "If you're ever up for another run, hit me up."
Rael accepted. "Same to you."
With that, they logged out.
The pod's hatch hissed open as Rael sat up, blinking against the dim lighting of his room. His limbs felt slightly stiff, the usual side effect of long VR sessions. He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders before climbing out.
Elias was already up, stretching lazily in his own pod. His sharp eyes flicked to Rael, a smirk forming.
"Damn, I almost forgot how jarring logging out is," Elias said, cracking his neck. "It's like waking up from a dream, but your body just aches."
Rael exhaled through his nose, rubbing his wrist. "You get used to it."
Elias snorted. "Says the guy who lived in VR for years." He leaned back against the pod, arms crossed. "So? How'd it go? Still getting used to things, or are you already breaking the game?"
Rael rolled his eyes. "Barely did anything. Basic training, first hunt, nothing crazy."
Elias grinned. "You know, I was gonna ask if you wanted to group up, but…" He tapped his temple. "Apparently, my unique choice of race decided to screw me over."
"Yeah, no kidding." Rael gave him a flat look. "You really went Umbravore?"
Elias laughed. "Of course I did! Tell me that doesn't sound badass. Shadow creatures? Evolving based on what they consume? Come on, that's peak gaming." He shook his head. "Except I kinda forgot how games tend to treat non-human races."
Rael raised a brow. "You spawned in some shithole, didn't you?"
Elias sighed dramatically. "Understatement. I woke up in a cave. A cave, Rael. Surrounded by things that probably wanted to eat me."
Rael smirked. "Sounds like a skill issue."
"Screw you." Elias rolled his eyes but chuckled. "Anyway, I gotta figure my way out of that hellhole before I can even think about grouping up. What about you? Gonna keep soloing?"
"For now." Rael stretched his arms. "I'll scout the area, see what kind of quests and mechanics are worth investing in."
Elias nodded. "Makes sense. Let me know if you find anything game-breaking."
Rael scoffed. "That's your job."
Elias grinned. "Fair."
With that, the conversation drifted off, and they each went about their routines. Rael took a quick shower, mind already planning his next move.
Leon had invited him to play together. He had brushed it off at the time, but now… it didn't seem like a bad idea. Having a reliable party early on could make things smoother, and despite everything, Leon was solid.
He exhaled, running a hand through his damp hair. No point overthinking it. Tomorrow, he'd reach out.